The Unknown God

When the Apostle Paul visited Athens, he was struck by the religiosity of the city's inhabitants. He said: "Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To an Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I'm telling you about." Acts 17:22-23
This blog is an attempt to do the same thing. It is an effort to explain the identity, character and personality of the God whom Christianity has professed to worship for the last two thousand years. Unfortunately, like the Athenians, most Christians have never taken the time to get to know God. In fact, if we are honest, many of them haven't thought very much about the being that is supposed to be at the center of their religion. Likewise, many folks have blindly accepted notions about God without considering the logical implications of those beliefs or the glaring contradictions that have been generated by their carelessness.
Like many of today's Christians, the people of Athens were devout and sincere; but the fact remains that they were worshiping a largely Unknown God (in conjunction with a great many other "gods"). In his attempt to identify this "unknown" individual for them, Paul said: "He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs - for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need." Acts 17:24-25
This is the God that this blog is attempting to explain. The One that Paul told the Athenians made everything - the One who does not live in man-made temples, and who is beyond the ability of humans to serve. Indeed, like Paul, I believe that this God wants us to come looking for Him/Her. God wants us to explore the Divine!
Paul continued: "His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him - though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed (Jesus Christ), and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:27-31
Did you catch that? God is reachable - we can find Him/Her if we're looking! I wonder how many of the Athenians of Paul's day caught what he'd shared with them?
Although many have abandoned the search before starting, contrary to popular belief, it is not a difficult or hazardous endeavor. If you will only allow him to do so, Jesus Christ will happily lead you to the Unknown God. John 1:18 This is a journey that God wants all of us to take. Wouldn't it be fun to explore the Unknown God together?

Scripture citations were taken from the New Living Translation of the Bible